UNIVERSITY BICYCLE ORDINANCES CODE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

This Code applies to all persons who own or operate a bicycle on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Campus, as well as those who use designated bicycle infrastructure.

CHAPTER 1

  1. DEFINITIONS
  2. Bicycle.Any one-,two-, three-, or four-wheeled device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, not including wheelchairsor similar devices. Low-speed electric powered bicycles are included, as defined by the Illinois Vehicle Code.

1.2.Bicycle Lane.An on-street lane marked for the use of bicycles using symbols or markings as indicated in Chapter 6.

1.3.Bicycle Path.An off-street Pathway, marked for exclusive use by bicycles using symbols or markings as indicated in Chapter 6.

1.4.Boot. A lock or other device placed on a bicycle by an authority that must be removed before the bicycle can be operated.

1.5.Code. Unmodified, “University Bicycle Ordinances.”

1.6.Campus. University property within the University District, as defined by the boundaries of University Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Windsor Road, Neil Street, Springfield Avenue and First Street.

1.7.Operator.Any person who operates or is in actual physical control of a bicycle, whether moving or standing still.

1.8.Parking.The leaving of a bicycle unattended.

1.9.Pathway.Any paved public wayother than a Roadway which is maintained by the university, including bicycle path, shared-use path, and sidewalk.

1.10.Roadway.Any public road on which motor vehicles are permitted to travel.

1.11.Shared Use Path. An off-street pathway, more than eight (8) feet in width, maintained for the shared use of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized transportation.

1.12.Sidewalk. An off-street unmarked pathway less than or equal to eight (8) feet in width, maintained for the primary use of pedestrians.

1.13.State.State of Illinois.

1.14.Stop.Complete cessation from motion.

1.15.Traffic Control Device. A sign, signal, marking, or device used to regulate, warn, or guide traffic, placed on, over or adjacent to a street, roadway, or pathway by authority of a public agency having jurisdiction.

1.16.University.The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

CHAPTER 2

  1. REGISTRATION OF BICYCLES

2.1.Registration. Bicycle registration shall be provided free of charge by the university to aid in the identification of bicycles and communication with bicycle owners. Bicycle registration is mandatory for all bicycles owned by students, staff members, and faculty members, which are parked or operated on campus and must be completed prior to parking or operation of the bicycle on campus. Bicycle registration instructions are available at The university shall provide a sticker to each registered bicycle. Registration is not considered complete until a university-administered registration sticker is affixed to the registered bicycleas described in Paragraph 2.2. It is the responsibility of each bicycle owner to register their own bicycle and to retrieve their own sticker, according to the instructions provided by the university at the time of registration. Visitors and those not directly affiliated with the university are not required to register bicycles used on campus.

2.2.Registration Sticker. As part of the registration instructions referenced in paragraph 2.1, Bicycle owners shall be provided with instructions to attain a numbered registration sticker and for affixing the registration sticker to the registered bicycle.

  1. The registration sticker is nontransferable (either between persons or bicycles) and shall be affixed only to the bicycle for which it was assigned and shall be affixed according to the instructions provided by the university at the time of receiving the sticker.
  2. If a registration sticker becomes damaged or broken, or if the owner acquires a new bicycle, then the owner must acquire a replacement sticker prior to parking or operation of the bicycle on campus.

2.3.Timing. Bicycles shall be registered before they are parked or operated on campus. Bicycles which change ownership may not rely on the previous registration, but must be re-registered. If the change of ownershipoccurs during an academic semester, the bicycle must be registered by the new owner prior to parking or operation of the bicycle on campus.

2.4.Effective Period. A bicycle registration shall be effective once a valid and accurate registration is completed and the registration sticker is affixed to the bicycle, and shall endure as long as the bicycle is under the same ownership and the registration sticker is affixed correctly.

2.5.Fee. There is no fee for the registration of a bicycle, including a registration sticker.

2.6.Reporting of Lost or Stolen Bicycles. Each owner of a registered bicycle should notify the university police if a registered bicycle is lost or stolen, so as to aid in the identification of the bicycle’s owner if the bicycle is later located.

CHAPTER 3

  1. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

3.1.Unsafe Bicycles Prohibited. No person shall operate a bicycleon campus which is in such an unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property.

3.2.Brakes. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake or brakesor other mechanism which will adequately control movement of and stop and hold such bicycle.

3.3.Lighting Equipment. Every bicycle, when operated on campus during the period from dusk to dawn, shall be equipped with, at minimum:

  1. at the front, an operational lamp which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet in front of such Bicycle, and
  2. at the rear, a red reflector of a type approved by the State which shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. NOTE: A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

CHAPTER 4

  1. GENERAL RULES OF OPERATION

4.1.Required Obedience to Traffic Laws. Any person operating a bicycle on a campus roadway or pathway shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all the laws covering the movement and operation of bicycles by the Illinois Vehicle Code and relevant local municipal ordinances (ChampaignMunicipal Ordinances;UrbanaMunicipal Ordinances), except as to special regulations in this University Bicycles Ordinance.

  1. Where Permitted to Operate. Refer to the Illinois Vehicle Code, Sec. 11-1505. Position of bicycles and motorized pedal cycles on roadways - Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.
  2. Carrying Articles. Refer to the Illinois Vehicle Code, Sec. 11-1506. Carrying articles.
  3. Clinging to Vehicles. Refer to the Illinois Vehicle Code, Sec. 11-1504. Clinging to vehicles.
  4. Riding Abreast. Refer to the Illinois Vehicle Code, Sec. 11-1505.1.
  5. Right of Way to Pedestrians. Refer to the Illinois Vehicle Code, Sec. 11-1502.
  6. Hand Signals. Refer to the Illinois Vehicle Code, Sec. 11-1510. Left Turns and Sec. 11-1511. Turn and stop signals.

4.2.Operator Riding Requirements. A person operating a bicycle shall regularly have at least one hand in contact with the handlebars and keep their feet in contact with the pedals and shall ride only while either sitting on the permanent and regular seat or while standing on the pedals.

4.3.Passenger Riding Requirements. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

4.4.Traffic Signals and Traffic Signs. Individuals operating a bicycleon a campus roadway or bicycle pathway shall obey automatic traffic signals and all traffic signs per the Illinois Vehicle Code.

4.5.Speed. No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed faster than what is reasonable and proper with regard to the safety of the operator and others, taking into account all immediate circumstances.

4.6.University Buildings. Bicycles may not be operatedor taken inside any university building unless approved by the appropriate building’s department.

CHAPTER 5

  1. OPERATION ON PATHWAYS

5.1.Safe Operation. Bicycles may be operated on a bicycle path, university sidewalkor shared use path, but shall be walked anywhere that bicycle operation is expressly prohibited, and on any pathway or roadway where bicycle operation would create a safety risk to others or to the operator. Bicycles transitioning between one type of pathway and another, or between roadways and pathways, shall do so at a safe speed and in a manner which will not create a safety risk to the operator or others.

  1. Pathways on which bicycle operation is expressly prohibited will be indicated through signage and a list will be maintained by Facilities & Services, available at

5.2.Traffic Control Devices on Bicycle Paths and Shared Use Paths. Traffic control devices on bicycle paths and shared use paths shall be providedin conformance with Chapter 6, and an operator of a Bicycle is required to obey the mandate of these devices at all times.

5.3.Control Signals on Parallel Roadway. Traffic signals, yield signs, or stop signs facing anyroadway which runs parallel to a pathway shall apply also to the operators of bicycles on such parallel pathway.

5.4.Bicycles to Operate on the Right.

  1. Upon all bicycle paths a bicycle shall be operated only to the right of the center line or median strip, except:

(1)when overtaking and passing another bicycle proceeding in the same direction; or

(2)when passing an obstruction; or

(3)when on a bicycle path designated and so posted by sign, as a one-way path.

5.5.PassingPedestrians or other Bicycles.

  1. Bicycles passing pedestrians or other bicycles shall only do so where there is a clear view of the lane or pathway ahead, where there is no traffic approaching and where there are no obstructions restricting the pathway or lane ahead.
  2. The bicycle operator shall give audible warning of the intention to pass to the person being passed by bell or verbal warning before passing.

5.6.Yielding to Pedestrians.

  1. Whenever the operator of a bicycle uses or crosses a pathway also used by pedestrians, the operator of the bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian.
  2. When pedestrians are improperly utilizing the bicycle path where a bicycle is travelling, the operator of a bicycle shall give an audible warning and reduce speed or stop as necessary to avoid collision or injury.
  3. On a shared use path or sidewalk where the number of pedestrians or width of such path (due to temporary obstruction or any other reason) prevents reasonable and proper bicycle riding with regard to the safety of the operator or others, the operator of a bicycle must dismount and walk the bicycle.
  1. No Pedestrians in BicyclePaths. Pedestrians shall not walk in bicycle paths, except to cross a bicycle path where a sidewalk or shared use path intersects with such bicycle path.

CHAPTER 6

  1. BICYCLE PATH CONTROL DEVICES

6.1.Traffic Control Devices. The following traffic control devices shall indicate that a pathway is bicycle path or a bicycle lane:

  1. Center Lines. A pathway marked with a center line indicates a bicycle path, and the line divides the bicycle path into two parts, each of which has a traffic flow opposite to the other. The line may be dashed or solid.
  1. Bicycle Icon. A separate lane on a roadway, marked on the pavement by an edge line and with the image of a bicycle icon on a posted sign or as a pavement marking, indicates that the lane is a bicycle lane. a pathway marked on the pavement with the image of a bicycle icon indicates that the pathway is a bicycle path.
  1. Edge Lines. Edge lines may be used to mark and fix the width limits of a bicycle path or bicycle lane. Any edge line provided on a bicycle path shall be a single solid yellow line 4 to 6 inches in width, except where the bicycle path is contiguous to a street, in which case the edge line on the roadway shall be a double yellow line.

6.2.Regulatory Signs and Pavement Markings.

  1. Regulatory signs, when used on a bicycle path, shall be geometrically similar to, and have the same meaning as their roadway counterparts.
  2. Pavement markings, utilizing either words or similar symbols, may be used either in place of or in addition to a posted sign.

CHAPTER 7

  1. PARKING

7.1.Where Parking is Permitted. While parked on university property, bicycles shall not be attached to anything other than a designated bicycle rack.

7.2.Methods of Parking Subject to Booting or Impoundment.

  1. Bicycles must be properly parked so as to use only one space on the bicycle rack.
  2. Bicycles shall not be parked so as to obstruct any entrance or exit of a bicycle parking area.
  3. Bicycles shall not be attached to or parked so as to prevent access to bicycles belonging to others.
  4. Bicycles shall not be parked so as to obstruct any entrance or exit of a building.
  5. Bicycles shall not be parked so as to impede use of stairways or access ramps.
  6. Bicycles shall not be attached to or parked so as to impede access to any hand rails.
  7. Bicycles shall not be parked so as to prevent others from using or maintaining the pathways, roadways, and campus facilities.

7.3.Authority to Publish Special Parking Regulations.Facilities & Services is hereby authorized to publish special regulations providing for prohibition of parking in any bicycle parking area and allowing for removal of bicycles in violation of the special regulations during designated periods for building construction, ground maintenance and improvements, university functions, or for other reasons. Notice of such special regulations shall be posted by sign in the regulated parking area at least two weeks before the regulations come into effect. The university will provide alternative parking for bicycle parking areas where parking is prohibited for more than thirty (30) days. Bicycles not removed from such areas or parked after the special regulations are in effect shall be in violation of this chapter and may be impounded as provided in Section 8.5.

7.4.Abandonment. Persons shall not abandon their bicycles on campus. A bicycle shall be considered abandoned if:

  1. A registeredbicycle is left unattended on university property for more than ninety (90) days at a residential building, or for more than ten (10) days at a non-residentialbuilding; or
  2. An unregistered bicycle is left unattended on university property for more the thirty (30) days at a residential building, or for more than five (5) days at a non-residential building.

CHAPTER 8

  1. PENALTIES

8.1.All penalties provided for in this chapter will be in accordance with the Bicycle Citation Codes & Fines published by Facilities & Servicesand are subject to change. This schedule shall be made available at

8.2.Bicycle Education Fine Waiver Upon first violation of any part of this code which results in a fine, a violator may opt to have the fine waived by completion of a bicycle education requirement, within 72 hours of receiving the violation. Instructions for acquiring a waiver shall be provided at the time of the issuance of the citation and are also available at The certificate of completion must be provided to the Campus Parking within five (5) business days of the violation date.

8.3.Registration Violations. Any faculty member, staff member, or student of the University who receives a citation for another violation, and whose bicycle is not registered within the time allotted in section 2.3 shall be assessed an additional $25.00 fine for failure to register under Chapter 2 (Registration of Bicycles). The additional registration fine shall be waived if the faculty member, staff member, or student registers his or her bicycle within 72 hours of receiving the violation and before paying any other penalties due.

8.4.Equipment Violations. Any person who fails to maintain the required equipment on a Bicycle as described under Chapter 3 (Equipment Required) shall be assessed a minimum $35.00 fine.

8.5.Operatorand Pathway Violations. Any person whose actions result in a violation of Chapter 4 (Operation of Bicycle) orChapter 5 (Operation on Pathways) shall be assessed a minimum $35.00 fine for each violation.

8.6.Parking Violations. Any person whose actions result in a violation of the provisions of Chapter 7 (Parking) shall be assessed a minimum $25.00 fine for each violation.

  1. Booting.Bicycle boots affixed to bicycles will include instructions to the operator on how to have the boot removed. Any person whose bicycle has been booted shall be assessed a minimum of $40 in fines, in addition to other fines assessed at the time the boot is removed from the bicycle by the appropriate authority. Any bicycle may be booted if:

(1)an appropriate authority deems that sufficient bicycle racks are available and such bicycle is in violation of Chapter7; or

(2)such bicycle has accumulated 3 unpaid citations.

  1. Impounding.

(1)Any bicycle may be impounded without prior notice if:

8.6.b.1.1.suchbicycle is in violation of Sections 7.2. or 7.3.; or

8.6.b.1.2.such bicycle poses any safety hazard.

(2)Any bicycle may be impounded only after an effort has been made to contact the registered owner, if any, using contact information as provided during registration, and/or by affixing a message on the bicycle with instructions to prevent impoundment if:

8.6.b.2.1.such bicyclehas been abandoned, as defined in Section 7.4.; or

8.6.b.2.2.such bicycle has been booted for over two (2) weeks; or

8.6.b.2.3.such bicycle has accumulated five (5) unpaid citations.

  1. Any person whose bicycle has been impounded shall be assessed a minimum $40 in fines, in addition to other fines assessed.
  2. In the case of any registered bicycle so impounded, notice shall be sent within 3 days after such impounding to the most recent registered owner using contact informationas provided on the latest registration form on file with the university.
  3. In the case of an unregistered bicycle being impounded, the owner may contact Campus Parking to provide acceptable proof of ownership,including but not limited to: store receipt; photograph of owner with bike prior to impoundment; serial number; or proof of registration with another jurisdiction. Registration must be completed before the bicycle is returned to the owner.
  4. Any impounded bicycle which is not redeemed within 60 days after attempted notice or date of impoundment if bicycle is unregistered shall be disposed of by the university as abandoned property.

8.7.Payment of Assessments. Failure to satisfy the penalties assessed may result in billing and collection by the University Business Office, and/or may result in denial of University bicycle parking privileges, and may be enforced by impounding of the bike or other university enforcement options.

  1. Citations may be paid by placing the correct amount in the violation envelope and depositing it in a red courtesy box.
  2. Payments may also be made online via the Campus Parking website.
  3. Payments may also be made in person at the Campus Parking service counter in the Public Safety Building.

8.8.Responsibility. A faculty/staff or student in whose name the bicycle is registered with the university is responsible for any parking violation issued to the bicycle, unless that bike was reported stolen before the violation was issued.

8.9.Appeals. Any person who desires to appeal the citation may submit an appeal to Campus Parkingwithin three (3) business days of the citation issue date. All appeals will be decided by the Bicycle Appeals Board.

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Revised February 11, 2014 Find the Code online at: